Nester took this sunrise photo from the top of Haleakala, at about 10,000 feet above sea level. Here’s Nester’s description of this Haleakala sunrise experience:

I’ve been here quite a few times but this trip back in 2012 was terrible and wonderful at the same time. I had an altitude sickness with 900 feet left to go to the top. Luckily I recovered as soon as the sun rose and voila! I was greeted with this awesome smile!

We highly recommend watching a Haleakala sunrise as part of a Maui vacation. Each one is magical, as Nester just described.

* Hawaiian Airlines has a special sale on airfare starting at $378 roundtrip. The sale is for travel on Monday through Thursday between January 11 and March 16, 2016, which coincides with the peak of humpback whale season. For this sale, you must book by November 13, 2015. Here’s a screenshot of the fare sale routes:

* Four Seasons hotels are giving away dream trips, including a six-day island hop to their top-rated Hawaii resorts on Maui and Hawaii islands. Learn more here.

* The 2016 Mike Carroll Lanai desk calendars are on sale. We just placed our order for them. They make great gifts and stocking stuffers for your friends and family who love Hawaii.

* Here’s another reason to wear mosquito repellant when you visit Hawaii — there have been 33 confirmed cases of Dengue Fever contracted on Hawaii Island. We just got back from Hawaii Island. While we were there, we used a mosquito repellant with picaridin and neither one of us got bitten during our nine-day visit. For good advice on mosquito repellants, see this Consumer Reports article.

* Unfortunately, coral bleaching is becoming a growing problem in Hawaii and around the world. One of the contributing factors is sunscreens containing oxybenzone per this Washington Post article. When we’re out in the ocean, we like to use a combination of rash guards with built-in sun protection along with sunscreens containing zinc. ThinkSport and ThinkBaby are two sunscreens that we routinely use in Hawaii. They have high concentrations of zinc, are water resistant for 80 minutes, apply fairly easily without a heavy white residue and have great safety ratings with EWG.org.

Airfare tip: We like to use the user-friendly airfare search tool on CheapAir.com to find the best airfare currently available.

]]>http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/11/12/hawaii-vacation-deals-news-november-12-2015/feed/0Waikiki Thanksgiving Holiday Dining & Events 2015http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/11/09/waikiki-thanksgiving-holiday-dining-events-2015/ http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/11/09/waikiki-thanksgiving-holiday-dining-events-2015/#commentsMon, 09 Nov 2015 18:46:56 +0000http://www.govisithawaii.com/?p=16329 Waikiki is a very popular destination to celebrate Thanksgiving in Hawaii’s wonderfully warm weather. While many North American residents will be wearing winter clothes for the Thanksgiving holiday, most visitors to Waikiki will be donning swimsuits, shorts and Aloha shirts. If you are one of the lucky ones planning a trip to Waikiki over Thanksgiving, we’ve created these suggestions for where to dine and special events to catch over the holiday weekend.

Waikiki Thanksgiving Buffets

The following Waikiki Beach restaurants are offering special Thankgiving buffets. Most of the including traditional Thanksgiving fare with turkey and traditional Thanksgiving sides.

The following Waikiki Beach restaurants are offering Thanksgiving-themed set menus. In some cases the restaurant’s standard, a la carte menu will also be available.

– Ocean House at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort: three-course Fall Harvest Thanksgiving Special for $35 adults / $15 children. See this link for more information. This restaurant is ocean front.

— Tiki’s Grill at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel: three-course Thanksgiving Turkey at Tiki’s for $36. See this link for more information. This restaurant has an ocean view.

— Wai’olu at Trump Waikiki: four-course dinner for $80 for adult / $40 for children. See this link for the menu.

– Azure Restaurant at the Royal Hawaiian: four-course dinner for $125. Details here. This restaurant has an ocean view.

Holiday events and things to see and do in Waikiki over Thanksgiving weekend

– 40th Annual Turkey Trot – is a 10-mile fun run where the prizes don’t necessarily go to the fastest runners but to the runners who finish close to their predicted time. The event is held on Thanksgiving morning. Learn more about this event and registration here.

– The Waikiki Holiday Parade will be held on Friday, November 27th, starting at 7pm. This parade travels approximately 1.5 miles through Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue — starting at Kalakaua Avenue and Saratoga Road and finishing at Queen Kapiolani Park. The event is expect to have 4,000 marchers, 40 vehicles and 38 bands. For more information, see this link.

— The amazing Christmas-themed sand sculptures should be freshly finished and on display at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

– The Royal Hawaiian Center holds their Holiday Kick Off event on Wednesday, November 25th from 5pm – 8pm with entertainment and lighting their 25-foot Christmas tree. Santa will be there and available for photos. See more details and the schedule here.

Notes:

– Pricing does not typically include taxes and gratuity. Verify pricing when you book.

— We may be adding more Thankgiving dinner options and events so do check back.

— Tables will book up quickly. For additional restaurant openings on Thanksgiving, check OpenTable.com.

– When you arrive on island, check with the concierge for additional Thanksgiving dining and events at your resort and pick up a copy of the Star-Advertiser.

John enjoyed this amazing scene from the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail from the east side of Oahu. It’s an easy hike/walk with many rewarding views like this one that John has shared. (By the way, If you can’t walk the trail, you can still see a very similar view without the hike at the Makapuu Point Lookout.)

So far this year, there have been seven shark attacks in Hawaii with one being fatal. Of the seven shark attacks thus far in 2015, three of them — nearly half — occurred in October. (See the shark incident list.) So what’s going on? Is there something special attracting sharks to the shore in October? Per the Hawaii Division of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR), most shark attacks happen in October and November — when sharks have given birth and are hungry. (Source)

Even with the uptick of shark incidents, overall Hawaii waters are relatively safe. Thousands of people enjoy ocean activities in Hawaii everyday and the vast majority don’t encounter sharks. Per the International Shark Attack File, the probability of death by lightning or fireworks far exceeds that of a shark attack.

Still, we should have a healthy respect for all ocean creatures when we’re in their home — the ocean. Take note of the following safety tips from the DLNR.

Ten Safety Tips to Reduce the Risk of Shark Injury

Swim, surf, or dive with other people, and don’t move too far away from assistance.

Stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night, when some species of sharks may move inshore to feed. But be aware that tiger sharks are known to bite people at all times of the day.

Do not enter the water if you have open wounds or are bleeding in any way. Sharks can detect blood and body fluids in extremely small concentrations.

Avoid murky waters, harbor entrances, and areas near stream mouths (especially after heavy rains), channels, or steep dropoffs. These types of waters are known to be frequented by sharks.

Do not wear high-contrast clothing or shiny jewelry. Sharks see contrast very well.

Refrain from excessive splashing; keep pets, which swim erratically, out of the water. Sharks are known to be attracted to such activity.

Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present, and leave the water quickly and calmly if one is sighted. Do not provoke or harass a shark, even a small one.

If fish or turtles start to behave erratically, leave the water. Be alert to the presence of dolphins, as they are prey for some large sharks.

Remove speared fish from the water or tow them a safe distance behind you. Do not swim near people fishing or spearfishing. Stay away from dead animals in the water.

Swim or surf at beaches patrolled by lifeguards, and follow their advice.

Anecdotally, we have seen a shark while we were snorkeling in Hawaii in September, 2007. This 6-foot reef shark appeared to be resting and exhibited no aggressive behavior.

We also recently enjoyed eight nights in October on Hawaii, the Big Island, in the midst of all these shark attacks and sightings. We spent quite a bit of time in the ocean and even went on a guided nighttime snorkel to swim with manta rays. Thankfully these fun times in the ocean were all without incident.

]]>http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/11/03/sharks-in-hawaii/feed/5Aloha Friday Photo: Savoring the final Hawaiian sunset before flying homehttp://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/30/aloha-friday-photo-savoring-the-final-hawaiian-sunset-before-flying-home/ http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/30/aloha-friday-photo-savoring-the-final-hawaiian-sunset-before-flying-home/#commentsFri, 30 Oct 2015 12:45:04 +0000http://www.govisithawaii.com/?p=16209 Mahalo to Brian Paulsen for sharing this nice sunset shot with us for Aloha Friday Photos. Here’s what Brian said about this photo:

The sad but still amazing final sunset before flying home to Port Angeles, WA. This was our 4th trip to the islands, but first to the Big Island. Every time I go I’m already trying to plan our next.

It seems that every Hawaiian sunset is uniquely beautiful, but there’s something special about the final sunset before flying home. We want to soak in and savor every second of it.

Happy Aloha Friday!

]]>http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/30/aloha-friday-photo-savoring-the-final-hawaiian-sunset-before-flying-home/feed/1What do you do with your luggage on the day you fly home?http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/27/what-do-you-do-with-your-luggage-on-the-day-you-fly-home/ http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/27/what-do-you-do-with-your-luggage-on-the-day-you-fly-home/#commentsTue, 27 Oct 2015 17:19:29 +0000http://www.govisithawaii.com/?p=16280

What do you do with your luggage when you have a significant time gap between when you check out of your Hawaii accomodations and when your flight departs? We touched on this tricky topic in our Oahu itinerary post, but we thought that this challenge is worthy of its own discussion.

From our many trips to the Hawaiian Islands, we usually have to check out of our hotel room at 11am or noon, but our flights don’t leave Hawaii until after 5pm. With so much to see and do in Hawaii, we don’t want to be tied to our luggage. This situation is always a challenge, but we have found a few solutions.

1. Check for a late checkout.

Our top recommendation is to start by asking the front desk if it is possible to get a late checkout. On the morning of your departure, call the front desk to ask if it’s possible to get a delayed checkout time. It has been our experience that most Hawaii hotels will extend checkout time from a typical 11am to later checkout at around 1pm, subject to availability. Some hotels might offer extended check out for an additional fee.

2. Check to see if your hotel has a courtesy suite with luggage lockers.

Some hotels provide a suite for guests to use to us after checkout. These suites usually have luggage lockers.

3. Ask if your hotel will hold your luggage after checkout.

Most hotels will store your luggage as a courtesy for a few hours after check out. (You may want to be prepared to tip the person who helps store your bags.)

4. Check with your airline to find out how soon you can check your luggage at the airport.

Contact your airline to determine when they open their check in service. Please note that this option may not always be feasible and depends on when your airline opens their service at the airport. For example, if you are flying on an airline that only has one flight that departs late in the evening, they won’t open their counter until a few hours or so prior to the late evening flight.

5. Store your luggage in your rental car.

Take your luggage with you. We always try to get a rental car with a trunk for this purpose. If we don’t have a trunk, we try to stay in the car and just enjoy some scenic driving with limited time away from the car. If we have to leave the car for a short period of time, we bring our valuables with us. Please note that this option can be a little risky as it is easy for thieves to break into rental cars.

6. Pay for an extra night.

If your budget allows, consider paying for an extra night. Even though you won’t be staying one more night, it’s very convenient to have a place to keep your luggage, clean up, check out and then head to the airport.

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So these are some options that we’ve tried or thought about. What other strategies have you used?

]]>http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/16/aloha-friday-photo-scenic-road-to-hana/feed/1Where to snorkel on Oahu away from the crowdshttp://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/12/where-to-snorkel-on-oahu-away-from-the-crowds/ http://www.govisithawaii.com/2015/10/12/where-to-snorkel-on-oahu-away-from-the-crowds/#commentsMon, 12 Oct 2015 18:30:22 +0000http://www.govisithawaii.com/?p=16273Today we have a guest post from Ken Muise, a resident of Oahu and snorkel enthusiast.

Makaha Beach Park by Ken Muise

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Most of the time when I read an article about snorkeling in Hawaii, it always comes down to two main places that people head to: Hanauma Bay and Shark’s Cove (Pupukea Beach Park). Those two places are great and they truly do have some of the best snorkeling on Oahu…and they’re probably in the Top 10 of the entire Hawaiian Island chain.

Here’s a quick tip, though: Everyone knows about them and how great they are so everyone goes to those two places. You won’t be alone. Heck, you may not even be alone in a personal 5 sq. foot space at either of those two places.

Snorkel Safety Notes

Please note, of the three snorkel locations listed below only Makaha Beach Park has a lifeguard on duty. That being said, the surf at both Ko’Olina Lagoons and Kaiona Beach Park is typically very, very small or non-existent. Always, check ocean conditions before going out, snorkel safe and use caution when visiting any beach in Hawaii. Honestly gauge your abilities and experience to the environment. Remember this commonly used phrase in Hawaii: “When in doubt, don’t go out.”

Which brings us to the topic of this article:

3 Great Places to Snorkel on Oahu that are NOT Crowded

1. Kaiona Beach Park

Address: Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795

Kaiona Beach Park is my secret get-away from Hanauma Bay. Okay, I’ll admit it: I love Hanauma Bay as much as the next snorkeler, but when the parking lot is full (which it often is after 9:30 a.m.) then Kaiona Beach Park is just a 10 minute drive in the same direction. It has a great back drop with Rabbit Island and beautiful, blue ocean. It has healthy reef, and is known as “Honu Heaven” because of the number of turtles that hang out in the shallow waters to feed. Besides fish and turtles, I’ve even seen a seahorse once and a box crab

2. Ko’Olina Lagoons

Address: 92-1220 Ali’inui Drive, Kapolei, HI 96707

This is a really cool and chill place on west Oahu that has a marina on the back side and is fronted by the four lagoons and resorts which include the Disney Aulani and the future Four Seasons Resort Oahu. I know that it sounds busy, but it’s really not that bad at all. Plenty of room to set up and stay for the day. The best place to snorkel at the lagoons is right up against the walls that separate the man-made lagoons from the open ocean. There are plenty of places for young ones and inexperienced snorkelers to give it a try. I’ve seen turtles, lots of fish, and even a monk seal in the waters at Ko’Olina

3. Makaha Beach Park

Address: 84-369 Farrington Highway, Waianae, HI 96792

Makaha Beach Park is a different type of snorkeling experience. For the advanced, you can take a 75 to 100 meter swim out to the “turtle cleaning” station by following the underwater cables. It’s worth it once you’re out there but it is a bit of a swim. Closer to shore, I’ve seen turtles and even a few snowflake moray eels (cooler to see and less dangerous than it sounds). However my favorite snorkeling past time at Makaha Beach Park is to explore the area right at the shore break (usually gentle from April through September but less so during the “winter months”) and search for sea shells.

Honu in Ko Olina. Photo by Ken Muise

So, now you have the best places to snorkel on Oahu that will be (pretty much) free of throngs of people that can sometimes get in the way of the enjoyable time. I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that you should always snorkel safely and with a partner and use quality snorkel gear from a trusted snorkel brand. Thanks for your time and I hope it works out for you and, as always, snorkel safe.

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About the Author: Ken Muise is an active-duty Soldier living on Oahu and spends most of his free time snorkeling, reading about the activity, and believing that he is a better snorkeler than most. He runs a site that offers snorkel gear reviews and gives away snorkel gear for free every month.

As April shared this photo, she said, “This is one of my favorite places on the island of Kauai and was taken during our trip last Nov. Can’t wait to go back in March! It’s our yearly vacation destination and someday we’ll retire there!”

Hanalei Bay is also one of our favorite places on Kauai. It’s almost unbelievably beautiful.

* Per the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the first humpback whale of the season has been spotted. NOAA researchers discovered this early arrival off Niihau on September 29. Congratulations to Marco and Laura of Italy for having the closest guess of the first reported arrival contest. They must really be in tune with the humpbacks as this is their second time winning our annual contest. While we’re on this topic, we should note that even though we have this first signal of the humpback whale season, the season doesn’t get into full swing until late December, with the peak of the season is from January through March.

Due to Hawaii’s proximity to the equator, there’s very little variation in temperatures throughout the year. In Kona, daytime high average in the upper 80°s during the summer months. While the average winter high temperatures only drop to the lower 80°s. Evening temperatures range from mid-60°s in winter to lower 70°s in the summer.

Kona average temperature data sourced from Weather.com.

While the above temperature chart for Kona is very representative of the major beach resorts on the Big Island, venturing to higher elevations is a different story. For examples, if you go to Waimea, across Saddle Road, in the village of Volcano or in Volcanoes National Park, you’ll cross into higher elevations and cooler temperatures as a result. When you’re in these regions, you’ll probably want to have a light jacket or sweater with you.

Cinder cones with drifts of snow still standing at the summit of Mauna Kea in late March

The summit of Mauna Kea stands tall at nearly 13,800 feet above sea level. At that elevation, the temperature is roughly 40°F cooler. If you take a Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour, most tour companies will provide parkas.

Hawaii Island Rainfall Trends

As previously mentioned, Hawaii has many different climates. In addition to the temperature differences based on elevation, the various rainfall levels also create these amazing climate/environment differences.

The following chart shows the rainfall levels as recorded on the Big Island’s two major airports — Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO). Notice the drastic difference. Kona’s dry conditions make it a great base for a sunny beach vacation, while Hilo’s plentiful precipitation make it a lush area to explore with beautiful waterfalls.

The above rainfall chart also highlights the seasonal differences in rainfall — particularly for Kona. Note that the winter months from December through March are the wettest. As we’ve mentioned on the other weather guides, that doesn’t mean your days will be soaked with rain, especially since most rain falls overnight in Hawaii, but it does mean that conditions may be wetter than average. That being said, we’ve visited Hawaii island during the high-precipitation months of January and March and we enjoyed sunshine every day of the trip.

As you review the rainfall trends, it’s also useful to look at the following maps. First the rainfall atlas shows the various microclimates of Hawaii Island — from very dry to abundant precipitation.

If you want to increase your chances of having sunny days during your Hawaii Island vacation, first, we recommend the Kohala Coast with Kailua-Kona following in second position. As this site reports, the Kohala Coast gets around 11 inches of rain each year, while Kona gets just a bit more at 18.4 inches of rain.

In August 2016 we plan to visit Hilo; in our many trips , we have never been there, because of its “rainy weather”. BUT what does that mean ? Is it raining every day ? Heavy rains ? Storms? and when they say LIGHT RAIN what does that mean ? Can we expect “short times of rain” and SUN afterwards ? or the sky is always cloudy ??

Hilo is not the sunniest city in Hawaii per this site. Additionally, Hilo is the wettest city on Hawaii Island. So, visitors would be wise to be prepared for rain.

In addition to the data sources we’ve provided, I reached out to a Hilo resident and popular morning radio personality, Darrin Carlson, for his insights on Hilo weather patterns. Here’s what Darrin shared:

Patterns? Depends on the season. Usually more rain in the winter time but 2015 has been extraordinarily different, but for usual patterns, usually you can count on showers in the afternoon, particularly if you’re up a bit higher in elevation.

From our many, but short visits to the Hilo area, we have noticed that when the weather was rainy, it was mostly rainy overnight. We can only recall one very rainy day in the Hilo area during an April visit in 2004. Other than that, we’ve enjoyed both sunny and partly cloudy days in the Hilo area.

We were not able to find a data source for Kona humidity levels. We would estimate somewhere in the upper 60s to lower 70-percent range. That may seem uncomfortably high, but when the tradewinds blow, which they do most of the time, that breeze keeps you comfortable.

Besides relying on the tradewinds, you can do a couple of things to help you feel more comfortable in the humidity. First, we recommend you stay in an accommodation that has ample air conditioning. Last year, some of our friends stayed in a Maui condo that had one, under-sized air conditioning unit that wasn’t large enough to properly cool the entire condo. They were uncomfortable for several days. The other tip to combat humidity is to wear breathable, light clothing.

Hawaii Island Hurricane Season

Though Hawaii is currently experiencing a busy tropical storm season in 2015, that has thankfully skirted around the islands, hurricane season is normally a non-factor in Hawaii. Hurricane season runs from June through November with the months of August and September historically being the most active.

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Have you been to Hawaii (Big) Island? What time of year did you visit? How was the weather?

Mahalo to Kristy Foutch-Hecht for sharing this this beautiful Kauai coastal view with us for Aloha Friday Photos. Here’s how Kristy described this scene:

The ocean was rough, the wind was strong, we walked along the edges until we came to this spot and I caught my daughter soaking it all in! We envisioned our house back in the flat open area and how happy and simply we’d live. An unforgettable time!

I think we can all appreciate Kristy’s daydream of having a home with this view. Right?

What’s the weather like on Maui? We’ll cover all the important weather questions to help you get to know this amazing Hawaiian island.

Maui Temperatures

The following chart shows the average monthly high and low temperatures. The data was collected from the airport in Kahului (OGG) which is fairly representative of the main beach resort areas.

Maui temperature chart with data sourced from Weather.com

Maui’s weather is warm throughout the year. Even in the thick of the “cold” winter months, tropical flowers flourish with blooms. In fact, the photo at the top of this guide was taken in February.

The coldest months of January and February average 81°F for daytime high temperatures while the evenings chill off to an average of 63°F. While you’ll be wearing shorts or swimwear in the day, you might want a light sweater or jacket in the evenings.

In the beach resorts, summer months heat up to an average around 88°F. Average summer evening temperatures only dip to the low 70s.

The temperatures in Maui’s higher elevations are significantly lower than from Kahului. If you go to the Upcountry, like Kula for example, you can expect temperatures to be 5°-10°lower. You might want to have a light sweater with you when you visit Maui’s Upcountry.

If you venture even higher, towards the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet above sea level, you can expect even chillier temperatures. Generally speaking the weather at the summit is about 30°F colder than temperatures near sea level at Kahului. If the weather is windy at the summit, which it often is, it feels more cold.

Maui Rain Levels

Before we look at the Maui rainfall data, we should note that in Hawaii, more rain falls overnight than during the daytime. That doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed rain-free days. Though rain can and does fall during daytime hours, rain showers are typically brief and are followed by one of Hawaii’s famous rainbows.

The following chart shows the average monthly rainfall data that was gathered from Maui’s main airport in Kahului (OGG).

Maui rainfall chart created by GoVisitHawaii.com with data sourced from Weather.com

Note that the rainiest months are December, January and March — primarily winter months. Does that mean you can expect lots rainy days during those months? Not necessarily. We’ve visited Maui several times in winter months and enjoyed plenty of beautiful sunny days. In fact, I can’t recall a day where we were rained out. If you do encounter a rain-drenched day, check out these fun and interesting things to do on Maui when it rains.

If you want to optimize your chances of sunshine on your Maui vacation, aim to visit during the months that are historically the driest — from June through September.

The following Maui Nui (Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe) rainfall map shows how rainfall is distributed geographically. The normal pattern is that the east and north facing areas and mountains receive the most rain.

As you review the above rainfall atlas of Maui it’s also useful to consider the follow satellite view of Maui. The darker green areas indicate higher levels of rain, while the tan areas are drier regions.

When considering where to stay on Maui as it relates to the weather. West Maui and South Maui resorts will tend to be the sunniest. As we’ve previously mentioned, winter months tend to be rainier. When we visit in winter, we almost always stay in South Maui which is a slightly drier than West Maui and much drier that East Maui. With these micro-climates, you may want to consider splitting your time between regions.

Ocean Temperature at Maui

You can swim in the ocean and enjoy water sports any time of year on Maui. According to this site, water temperatures near Honolulu range from 76°F in winter months to 80°F in late summer and early fall.

Maui Humidity

The relative humidity for Kahului, Maui averages around 71%. That may seem uncomfortably high, but when the tradewinds blow, which they do most of the time, that breeze keeps you comfortable. See the Kahului chart on this page for more humidity details.

Besides relying on the tradewinds, you can do a couple of things to help you feel more comfortable in the humidity. First, we recommend you stay in an accommodation that has ample air conditioning. Last year, some of our friends stayed in a Maui condo that had one, under-sized air conditioning unit that wasn’t large enough to properly cool the entire condo. They were uncomfortable for several days. The other tip to combat humidity is to wear breathable, light clothing.

Maui Hurricane Season

Though Hawaii is currently experiencing a busy tropical storm season in 2015, that has thankfully skirted around the islands, hurricane season is normally a non-factor in Hawaii. Hurricane season runs from June through November with the months of August and September historically being the most active.

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We’ve reviewed quite a bit of Maui weather data that are based on averages over years of data collection. Though past weather and overall trends can be a good predictor of future weather, that’s not always the case. Weather can be unpredictable.

* Germaine’s Luau on Oahu is offering steeply discounted tickets for the buffet and show on LivingSocial. This deal reduces the normal price of admission from $88 to $45. Learn more here.

* Four Seasons Resort Oahu is now accepting reservations! This resort in Ko Olina will be the first property on Oahu managed by the luxury Four Seasons brand. Four Seasons Resort Oahu is accepting reservations starting June 1, 2016. A special introductory offer of a fourth night free is available through peak summer vacation time.

* Jetsetter has loads of great Hawaii hotel deals across all the major islands — most deals are high-end hotels, too. One of their top deals is for the Mauna Lani Hotel & Bungalows on the posh Kohala Coast of Hawaii (Big) Island for only $220 per night. Bargain! That’s the lowest price I’ve ever seen for this resort. Check out our review of Mauna Lani Bay Hotel.

* If you have a Costco membership, check out the deal at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. It’s almost all-inclusive and starts at about $400 per night for a couple and includes daily breakfast for two, nightly three-course dinner, unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, self-parking, resort charge, full-size rental car and hotel and car taxes. See more about the deal here and read our review of Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Mahalo to Linda Alba from Lynwood, California for sharing this beautiful Maui rainbow photo with us for Aloha Friday Photos. Here’s Linda’s description of how this rainbow greeted her during her recent return visit to Maui:

This is my 2nd time visiting Maui. The first time was 1980 and I really didn’t remember much about this island. Maui is absolutely breathtaking! We arrived on August 12 2015. The morning of Aug 13 we were sitting in a room at the Royal Kahana listening to our orientation about the island. It had been sprinkling a bit and someone said there was a rainbow but not sounding too excited. I of course had to see the rainbow and THIS is what greeted me. The most spectacular sight I have ever seen in my entire life! I must have taken 30 pictues of this rainbow. This will forever be my most favorite photo EVER! Happy to share it with you

Mahalo to Tom Sakiyama for sharing his lovely photo with us for Aloha Friday Photos. Tom captured this Hawaiian-style tribute on a September 11th in years past. Here’s how he described this moment of remembrance:

A community lei returned to the sea on 9/11 in memory of those lost to Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and the attacks on the United States in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.

What a beautiful way to honor this day of remembrance with a Hawaiian tradition.

How’s the weather on Oahu in spring, summer, winter and fall? Temperatures are pleasantly warm all throughout the year.

Let’s dive into all the Oahu weather details including temperatures, rainfall, microclimates and more.

Average Oahu Temperatures

Oahu monthly temperature chart with data sourced from Weather.com

The above chart indicates the average monthly temperatures for Honolulu, Hawaii. It’s a good representation for the rest of the beach resorts on the island. (Note that anytime, you are in a higher elevation, for example at the popular Pali Lookout, temperatures will be chillier.)

As you can see from the chart, Oahu’s average high temperature ranges from the low to upper 80s F. The “coolest” months – at a lovely 81 F – are January and February. The hottest months are July, August and September with an average of 88 F.

Evening temperatures in winter and spring months dip down to the mid to upper 60s. If you’re outside past sunset, you might want to have a light sweater or jacket with you. Summer and fall average low temperatures are pleasant in the lower 70s.

The following chart shows the average monthly rainfall levels based on data collected from the Honolulu airport. As you can see, the driest months range from April through September. Fall and winter months bring more precipitation to the islands, which also makes the island greener. For example, see how much greener Diamond Head looks in winter as compared to the end of summer in this post.

Honolulu, Oahu monthly average rainfall graph created by Go Visit Hawaii with data sourced from Weather.com

As we look at the seasonality of Oahu rainfall levels, we should also consider the microclimates of the island. Some areas are wetter than others.

In conjunction with the above rainfall map, also look at the following Google Map of Oahu noting that the darker green areas are also the areas that receive the most annual precipitation. Likewise, the lighter green and tan regions are drier.

As you review these maps while choosing where to stay on Oahu, notice that two of the larger areas with hotels on a beach — Honolulu/Waikiki and Ko Olina are in the driest regions. The North Shore gets slightly more annual precipitation, but we wouldn’t really let that deter us from visiting the North Shore — even in the rainiest months. If you are having difficulty trying to decide whether to stay in one of the drier areas versus a greener, more lush environment, you may want to split your time between two different regions.

Ocean Temperature around Oahu

You can swim and enjoy water sports year round in Hawaii. According to this site, water temperatures near Honolulu range from 76F in winter months to 81F in late summer and early fall.

Oahu Humidity

The relative humidity for Honolulu averages around 64%. That may seem uncomfortably high, but when the tradewinds blow, which they do most of the time, that breeze keeps you comfortable. See the Honolulu chart on this page for more humidity details.

Besides relying on the tradewinds, you can do a couple of things to help you feel more comfortable in the humidity. First, we recommend you stay in an accommodation that has ample air conditioning. Last year, some of our friends stayed in a condo in Hawaii that had one, small air conditioning unit that wasn’t large enough to properly cool the entire condo. They were uncomfortable for several days. The other tip to combat humidity is to wear breathable, light clothing.

Oahu Hurricane Season

Though Hawaii is currently experiencing a busy tropical storm season in 2015, that has thankfully skirted around the islands, hurricane season is normally a non-factor in Hawaii. Hurricane season runs from June through November with the months of August and September historically being the most active.

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Have you been to Oahu? What time of year did you go? How was the weather?